Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-10-06
THE NORTHWEST
THE GENTEHNIIL HISTORY or OHIO.
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B1 w.YAAAAnD ExIcH.

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SIMON KENToN's SERVICES IN OHIO.
1t will be we'll to mention at thi
point the heroic deeds Of Gen. Simon
Kenton, the renowned Indian fighter
the friend and companion OF Georg'
Rogers Clark and Daniel Boone, and
the invaluable assistant Of Gen. Wayn,
in this celebrated campaign. We hav,
condensed from a valuable sketch o
his life, by the venerable c. G. Ora
ham. NJ, d., originally published in the
Louisville Commercial, q brief account
of his exploits in this State, omittinl
only those portions which treat Of hi
services to his adopted State of Ken
lucky in that early day:
''The renowned Simon Kenton, thu
subject of the following sketch. wal
amongst the most heroic and self-sac
Mficing pioneers Of Kentucky. He wa,
ofObscure parentage, born in Fauquiel
county, Virginia, on the 18th day ol
May, 1755. Having, at the age of six.
teen years, personal difficulty and
rough and tumble fight at home, and
supposing ho had killed his enemy, he
fed, fearing the.consequences. Travel
ing by night and lying concealed by
day, after many sufferilgs he arrived on
Cheat river, in April. III, and changed
his name to Simon Butler. After some
months stay at this place, having
earned by his labor a good rifle, he
joined u party who were going to Fort
Pitt. At this place he met the notori-
GUS Simon Girty. In company with
George Yeager and John Strader. Ken
ton from this point proceeded down the
Ohio river as far as the mouth of the
Kentucky river.
"During the winter of 1773-4, Kenton
spent his time with hunting party on
the Big Sandy, and when the war broke
out with the Indians he retreated into
Fort Pitt with other settlers. When
Lord Dunmore raised an army TO pun
ish the Indians, Kenton volunteered
and was employed as spy. He also
acted in the same capacity, with Col.
Lewis. In the fall of this year he re-
turned with Thomas Williams to the
old hunting ground on the Big Sandy"
On one occasion he saved the life of
Daniel Boone, in l776, when Boons-
borough was attacked.
"By command of Boone, q desperate
charge was made and seven of the four
teen whites were wounded, Boone
among them, whose leg was broken.
An Indian sprang upon him with up
lifted tomahawk, but before the blow
was given, Kenton killed the Indian
and bore his gallant leader into the fort.
When all in the fort was secure, Boone,
addressing Kenton, said: We'll, Simon,
you have behaved yourself like man
to-day; indeed, you are a fine fellow
Kenton deserved the praise, for he had
saved Boone's life and killed three In
dians.
"Boonsborough sustained three sieges
this year, in every one of which Ken
ton bore an active part. Kenton con-
tinued as a spy until June, 177S, when
he joined the Clarke expedition against
Kaskaskia. This expedition was en-
tirely successful, and Kenton returned
to Harrodsburg by way of Vincenness,
which he entered at midnight, exam
ined every part Of the town, and com
municated such intelligence to Clarke
as enabled him afterward to stake that
post.
"After this Kenton joined party of
Boone's, consisting of nineteen men, to
go against small Indian town on Paint
creek, in Ohio. On arriving near the
village, Kenton, as usual, was in ad-
vance, and head loud laughter in a cane
brake Just before him, and he suddenly
saw two Indians mounted on pony,
one facing the animals head the other
his tail. He aimed, pulled the trigger
and both fell-one killed, the other
mortaily wounded. He hastened to
scalp them, bIt was Immediately sur
rounded by about forty Indians, when
he commenced dogging from tree to
tree to avoid being shot, until Boone
with his party coming up, furiously at
tackled and signally defeated the Indi-
ans.
"In September of the same year he, in
company with George r. Clarke, went
to Chillicothe on similar expedition
and succeeded in haltering seven
horses, and the succeeding day arrived
with them on the Ohio river few miles
below Maysville, but the river was so
rough that they could not cross with
safety. To relieve their burden, they
turned four horses loose, but, afterward
relenting, they endeavored to recover
them, and with this view they separa-
ted to search for them. Kenton had
not gone far when he heard the whoop
of Indians behind him and, instead of
trying to make his escape, he dis
from his horse, tied him and
crept back to the direction of the noise.
Two Indians and a white man made
their appearance; he raised his rifle,
pulled the trigger, but the gun flashed.
Hn then tOoL IN hia hpnla hiIt If Waa
too late; he was taken prisoner. The
party were furious toward him and beat
him without mercy, and then secured
him for the night by tying him on his
back to stakes, both hand and foot. His
was for more than eight
his suffering were extreme and
almost insupportable. He was COM
PEELED to run the gauntlet eight times;
three times tied to stake to be burned. |
On one occasion man jumped upon
and was about to kill him and called
for the tomahawk, when Kenton said,
Simon you won't kill me, will you?'
He was then PROSTATE on the ground |
and Girty on him. Girty said, Who
are yout know my name?' when Ken.
ton answered, i am Simon Kenton.'
Good God, how came you here? asked
Simon Girty and quickly released him.
"He was finally, through Logan, the
Mingo Chief, purchased by Canadian
trader, named Dwyer, who delivered
him over to the British commander at
Detroit. Here he remained until the
summer of 1910, when he affected his
escape through the assistance Of Mrs.
Harvay. the Wife ,f an Indian trader. |